Blue Bar at Startup

Question

Hi,   I just received my Dell Dimension E521 with Windows Vista Home Premium several days ago.    Every time I turn on the computer the blue startup bar under the Dell Logo freezes halfway.  When I turn it off using the power button and then turn it on again, it normally boots up.    I did some search, and found out that it might be the USB adapter.  So I tried removing all the USB's, and after removing one of them it seems like the problem is fixed.  But what I fail to understand is that if it is a USB problem then why is that it boots up normally after I turn it off using the power button on the tower.  And then why does the device attached to that USB Port works normally. Furthermore, how can I fix this problem? Or is there a fix at all?   PS - I talked to the stupid non-english speaking, Phillipene based dumba$$ person who does not know .  But her 'tools' did make me notice that when I boot the computer and when it actually freezes halfway, the 2 - 3 - 4 lights are lit up but not 1.   Thanks in advance!

PETER345 · Answer

You might also check for BIOS updates. This is the type of bug that gets fixed in one of those. Peter

RoHe · Answer

It sounds like the PC is attempting to boot from that USB device, which it can't so freezes until the device 'times out'. Run BIOS setup (F2 before Vista starts to load) and look for an option that says something like 'USB-NO BOOT'. Enable that option, save the change and exit setup. The PC should reboot normally with all your USB devices connected. Ron

SugarD-x · Answer

I had this problem on a very old non-Dell computer with Windows 98 and it happened every time I reinstalled Windows 98. One day after a reinstallation it finally stopped happening, so it may be a software-related issue with the Windows start-up files.

mathbou73 · Answer

Hello,   I have recently buy a dimension E521 too with windows VISTA and i have the same problem. Sometimes when my PC is starting, it freeze on the bar Vista and the only thing to do, is swith off and swith on a new time the PC. I'm affraid with my hard disk because it's not very good to swith off a PC like this. I'm french so my english is maybe not very well but if someone has unstertood my problem, i would like to know if enable the USB-NO BOOT in the Set Up is really the solution (solution by RoHe) ? Does it works ? If you have a solution for my problem, i will be very happy. Thanks by advance Mathbou:smileysad:

PETER345 · Answer

mathbou73,

Your English is fine!

Setting USB-NO BOOT in the BIOS should help with the machine hanging before the OS starts to load. If the OS has started, then I don't think that is the problem.

You can certainly try disconnecting USB devices to see if that helps. You can also try the NO BOOT option. I won't hurt unless you want to boot from USB.

I don't have Vista, but XP has a boot option called Logged (or something like that that creates a log as it boots). You can use that type of option to determine what phase the OS is in when it hangs.

Peter

RoHe · Answer

There's a bios update for this model that's supposed to help Vista. But, I've seen quite a few posts where the update failed and Dell had to replace the motherboard.

If you search these forums you'll find the threads discussing these problems.

Ron
Edit: read this:
http://www.dellcommunity.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=dim_bios&message.id=51565

Message Edited by RoHe on 02-23-2007 09:58 AM

wasvsdal · Answer

I still havent been able to completely understand the reason behind this problem.  But if I dont have my printer connected to my computer connected when I boot this on, it boots normally.  The thing is I never installed the software for this printer because this thing automatically installed the software for it (pre-loaded stuff im guessing).    My suggestion to you, unplug all the USB's.  Put in Keyboard, and Mouse.  Boot!  If it boots normally #2) then put in the third USB.  if it boots normally then do it again for the next USB.   Post back ur results after this.

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Blue Bar at Startup

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